Gemma Atkinson has revealed she is heartbroken after her dog Norman died.
The Strictly star shared the devastating news on Instagram over the weekend, penning a loving tribute to her companion of 12 years.
‘My beautiful boy Norman has passed away. My heart is broken,’ she told her followers, explaining that she had to ‘make the hardest decision of my life.’
’12 years ago I made a promise to him that i would always take care of him and never allow him be in pain or to suffer. Had I put off making the hardest decision of my life any longer I would have broken that promise,’ Gemma wrote.
Gemma Atkinson has revealed she is heartbroken after her dog Norman died. The Strictly star shared the devastating news on Instagram, penning a tribute to her companion of 12 years
‘My beautiful boy Norman has passed away. My heart is broken,’ she told her followers, explaining that she had to ‘make the hardest decision of my life’
Norman was by Gemma’s side for 12 years, before she met her partner, Strictly dancer Gorka Márquez and welcomed her two children, Mia, four and Thiago, 11 months.
‘It’s hard to put into words how much Norman changed my life and made it so much better Simply by just being there,’ Gemma wrote. ‘Throughout the good & bad experiences the last 12 years he’s been there with Ollie making everything ok.’
‘My most favourite weekends were spent having long walks exploring together, then home lay in bed cosy with them both watching a film while they snored away peacefully.’
Gemma added: ‘I think I’ll miss that the most…That and the fact Norm was always the only one in the whole house to get up and come downstairs with me in the mornings no matter how early it was.’
‘My 5am club won’t be the same without his company.He was my first experience of being a mum and having someone other than myself to care for. He’s taught me a lot.’
‘Mainly to always live in the moment, remain positive and to keep trying. He never stopped trying to just get up and please me. Even at the end. He was the most gentle and caring soul combined with fierce love and loyalty to his family, his pack.’
She added that she was ‘beyond sad’ for her daughter Mia, explaining how Norman would wake her up ‘by going into her room and pinching her Snuggie almost everyday of her life.’
‘She’s never known him or Ollie to not be here. Her first best friend. And so close to her 5th Birthday.’
She added that she was ‘beyond sad’ for her daughter Mia, explaining how Norman would wake her up ‘by going into her room and pinching her Snuggie almost everyday of her life’
’12 years ago I made a promise to him that i would always take care of him and never allow him be in pain or to suffer. Had I put off making the hardest decision of my life any longer I would have broken that promise,’ Gemma wrote
‘They say the sadness we feel when we lose a loved one is the price we pay for loving them so much, and boy did i love you Norman.’
‘In all these years the only time you’ve broken my heart is today, when yours stopped beating. I’m going to love you, miss you and remember you forever.’
‘Until we meet again Norman… Go and run again and have some fun up there with my dad. You’re such a good boy.’
Gemma’s post was met with an outpouring of comments, with Louise Thompson writing that she was ‘in floods of tears reading this,’ while Strictly star Amy Dowden commented that she was ‘sending so much love.’
Gemma’s post was met with an outpouring of comments, with Louise Thompson writing that she was ‘in floods of tears reading this’
Norman was by Gemma’s side for 12 years, before she met her partner, Strictly dancer Gorka Márquez and welcomed her two children, Mia, four and Thiago, 11 months
On Sunday, Gemma posted again, thanking fans for their messages as she explained how she was supporting her daughter through the loss
On Sunday, Gemma posted again, thanking fans for their messages as she explained how she was supporting her daughter through the loss.
‘I posted a card addressed to her from Norman in heaven explaining he’s happy and his legs woprk and she doesn’t need to worry about him,’ Gemma explained. ‘It should arrive on Tues. I’m hoping it helps.’
She added that Norman’s final moments were peaceful and full of love as she told fans how ‘he fell asleep peacefully at home on his bed right next to me.’
‘Before he left I placed one of Thiagos dummies under his blanket. He always did love pinching them after all.’
